Railroad torpedo-placer.



H. MJREGNIER.

RAILROAD TORPEDO PLACER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. I913.

Patented Sept. 12,1916.

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H. M. REGNIER.

RAILROAD TORPEDO PLACER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, I913- Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 $HEETS-SHEET 2 l/V VEN T OR W! T IVE S SE3 HARRY M. REGNIER, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

RAILROAD TORPEDO-PLACER.

Application filed May 31, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY M. REGNIER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad Torpedo-Placers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which a signal torpedo may be secured to a rail, from a moving car, with ease and accuracy; and in carrylng out the object of my lnventlon I provide a holder or head in which the signal torpedo is held in place between two jaws, and released through the intermedium of a buffer spring tongue operated by placing the torpedo placer down upon the rail.

Another object is to provide a signal torpedo placer. which'can be operated from a moving train, of a simple, compact and durable construct-ion, including a buffer spring arranged to sustain the weight of the torpedo placer in working position on the rail, and which may be operated to release a torpedo in such a manner that the torpedo will become disengaged before the body of the torpedo comes in contact with the rail.

A further object is to provide a reversible duplex torpedo placer which will carry two signal torpedoes in position, in a manner permitting the torpedoes being quickly detached and secured to the rail without danger of the torpedo exploding during the operation.

Another object is to provide a staff supported torpedo placer which will allow of carrying in place two signal torpedoes the torpedo being carried on a line with the center of gravity of the placer.

lVith these and other objects in viewthe present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully and finally pointed out in the appended claims, it being further understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like character of reference indicate similar parts in the several views: Figure 1, shows Specification of Letters Patent.

vof which the placer is operated.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 770,931.

a perspective view of a torpedo placer embodying my invention disclosing two torpedoes in position. Flg. 2, shows a central sectional view of the torpedo placer disclosing oneof the buffer spring tongues as supporting the torpedo placer above the rail. Fig. 3, shows a view disclosing the torpedo placer at the instant the torpedo is being released. Fig. 4, shows a top view partly in section of the torpedo held above the rail. Fig. 5, shows a view partly in section disclosing the torpedo clip as sprung upon the rail and a tongue about to be withdrawn, from below the torpedo. Fig. 6, shows a transverse sectional view of the torpedo placer with the torpedo held above the rail, Fig. 6, being an end view of Fig. 2 with parts removed.

In my present invention I provide a railroad torpedo placer, arranged to be operated from the rear of a moving train, to

enable the operator to successively place two torpedoes without recharging the head, the torpedoes being detached by a spring buffer tongue which is actuated when the head is forced down upon the rail.

In carrying out the aim of my invention I employ a head including the base plate 1 bent at right angles to form two equal base sections, witha boss, 1 extending from the bight of the base plate. Located upon opposite sides and near one end of the base plate 4, are the guide jaws, 5 held in parallel spaced relation, while extending from the opposite end of the base plates are the aws, 6 also held in parallel spaced relations. As

1 disclosed the base plate, 4 ends in the two terminal stop lips, 7, 7, centrally positioned between the jaws 5 and 6, and extending at right angles to the respective base ends. Secured to the boss 1, is the sleeve 2, arranged to receive the staff or handle 3, by means Secured to thetop of the base plate by means of the rivets 2, is the V shaped'buffer spring 12, having the recurved ends13, and 14, which ends extend obliquely below the lips 7, as

shown in Fig. 2. From the foregoing it will be understood that the spring tongues 13 and 14, are held in resilient spaced relation relative to the ends of the base plate 1. Extending from the inner faces of the jaws 5 and G are the guard ribs 11. As shown these ribs, 11 are rounded transversely. Situated adjacent to, and in front of eachguard rib, l1 and slightly below the same, is a carrying lug, 8, while positioned below and 1n front of each carrying lug, 8 is a stop lug, 9, the position of one set of these lugs bemg clearly shown in Fig. 2. Near the lower edge, each jaw member 5 and 6 is provided with a lengthwise positioned guard rib 10, arranged to protect the stop lug, 9. The lips, 7 extend downward far enough to serve as a stop to the spring tongue hmltlng their upwardmovement, thereby preventing the torpedo being exploded between the tongue and the base plate.

The torpedo used in connection with my placer is of that kind including a spring clasping member to which the torpedo proper is secured. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I have torpedoes in position, with the head. Each torpedo, T, has the oppositely d1- rected clamping arms 15 and 16. These arms are arranged to be sprung into the I pedo.

carrying lugs, 8 and below the stop lugs 9, in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The distance between each set of aws 5 and 6,

is greater than the thickness of the rail head, while the spring tongues 13, and 14, are slightly less in width than the top of the rail R, as shown in Figs. 4, and 5.

When a torpedo is placed within the head it is held obliquely between the jaws as disclosed in Figs. 4, and 6. In this position the ends of the tongue 13 and 14 extend a suitable distance below each tor- Now when it is desired to place the torpedo from the rear end of a movlng train, the operator simply guides the head above the rail and then allows the placer to drop downward, in doing this, one set of guide jaws will land astride of the rail, the jaws being guided by means of the rlbs 10, which are located in alinement wlth the lower edge of each jaw and are to the rear of their respective stop lugs, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4 a tongue 14 is shown in position upon the top of a rail R, before the torpedo has been set. As the spring 14 is forced upward it contacts with the torpedo and jerks the clamping arms 15, of the torpedo out of the carrying lugs, allowing the 7 arms to snap upon the rail head.

In Fig. 5, the torpedo is shown at the instant the arms are sprung out of the carrying lugs, the tongue 14 still being in position. As soon as the torpedo is sprung it clasps the rail head and remains stationary while the tongue travels from below the torpedo. If it is desired to place a second torpedo the operator simply reverses the head and repeats the operation to place the second torpedo. The clasping arms are disengaged before the body of the torpedo comes in contact with the rail.

In Fig. 3 an elevational View is shown disclosing a torpedo at the instant it has been released from the carrying lugs.

In Fig. 6 an elevational view is shown in section with the tongue contacting with the rail head, the clamping arms of the torpedo still being in position.

As shown in Fig. 5, the lugs 8 and 9, are located diagonally opposite one another. This is necessary because the torpedo arms 15 and 16 extend in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 4.

The guard lugs 11 are positioned in front of the carrying lugs and protect the torpedo arms at the forward end of the head, while the guard ribs 10, protect the lugs and torpedo arms from below.

While I have shown the head as made of sheet metal, it is of course understood that the same can be made of cast metal. So also, while I have shown a special type of torpedo, the lugs can be so placed as to carry any class of torpedoes having a holding wire or spring clip.

The device is simple and inexpensive in construction and both durable and cfiicient in operation and can be readily manipulated to place a signal torpedo upon a rail, from the rear end of a moving train, with ease, accuracy and despatch.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A torpedo placer including in combination, a head having two jaws held in parallel spaced relation, means for holding a torpedo carried by said jaws, and a resilient spring tongue held between said jaws having a recurved terminal arranged to ex- I tend below a torpedo being placed to exert an upward pressure thereon, in releasing the torpedo.

2. A torpedo placer including in combination, a head having two jaws held in parallel spaced relation, a resilient tongue held obliquely between said jaws, means carried by said jaws for holding a torpedo, and an operating handle extending from said head, said resilient tongue having a recurved terminal arranged to extend below a torpedo being placed to exert an upward pressure upon the torpedo, in releasing the same.

3. A torpedo placer including a base plate having two flat jaws held in parallel spaced relation each jaw having a carrying lug and a stop lug adjacent thereto, means for holding a torpedo having clamping arms, and a resilient spring member yieldingly held between said jaws said resilient member having a recurved terminal arranged to extend under the torpedo being placed, said carrying lugs and stop lugs being arranged to engage with the clamping arms of the torpedo.

4. A signal torpedo placer including a 1,198,151 Fit base member bent at right angles and havyieldingly held between said jaws, as and ing oppositely positioned jaws extending for the purpose set forth.

from said base'member in parallel spaced In testimony whereof I aflix my signarelation, an operating handle extending ture, in the presence of two witnesses.

' from the bent portion of said base member, HARRY M. REGNIER.

each of said jaws having a torpedo carry- Witnesses: ing member, and a spring secured to said MARY E. BEAN, base member having its ends recurved and N. D. PORTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C. v 

